The personal assistant of a Rajya Sabha MP of the Samajwadi Party has been detained in connection with an espionage racket that allegedly involved a Pakistan high commission staffer.

Farhat, (center) the PA of SP’s Rajya Sabha MP Munawwar Saleem, was detained Friday night and was later arrested by Delhi Crime Branch on Saturday in connection with the espionage case in which a Pakistan High Commission staffer was expelled from the country and three persons were arrested.(HT Photo )

The personal assistant of a Rajya Sabha MP of the Samajwadi Party has been arrested in connection with an espionage racket that allegedly involved a Pakistan high commission staffer.

Delhi Police detained Farhat Akhtar, an aide of SP’s Munawwar Salim, on Friday night, said a senior Crime Branch officer. He was arrested after questioning.

Police are also trying to catch hold of other members of the racket who were suspected of having close links with Pakistan high commission’s Mehmood Akhtar.

Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated further after Mehmood was briefly detained for allegedly running the spy ring that collected sensitive information about Indian security operations.

Police detained Mehmood on Wednesday and arrested two Indian citizens at the Delhi zoo when they were meeting to exchange sensitive documents. A third Indian was arrested on Thursday. Mehmood, who was released from custody under diplomatic immunity rules, has been asked to leave the country by Saturday.

Pakistan has denied the charge and accused Indian investigators of manhandling Mehmood. It also expelled an Indian embassy staff in a tit-for-tat move, saying his activities were against diplomatic norms. New Delhi has rejected Pakistan’s accusations.

Mehmood said in his confession that he was in touch with one Farhat, police sources said. It was later found out that Farhat was the personal assistant of SP’s Salim.

“Based on Akhtar’s questioning, we called Farhat for clarifications. He is being questioned...,” a police source said.

Police suspect that Farhat supplied documents on national security to Mehmood in exchange for money. Being the assistant of a Rajya Sabha MP, he had access to a few relevant documents, police sources said.